Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To respond to the point raised by Deputy Fitzpatrick, under current legislation, the large breweries are able to do what we propose allowing small breweries to do. Diageo and Heineken account for more than 99% of the beer products sold in pubs. We were approached by a large brewery which tried to bribe us. It promised us X amount free per month if we included their beers and excluded Irish craft beers from the provisions. That is the truth. The large breweries have an incredible stranglehold on the industry. The status quois that Diageo and Heineken have complete control of the market. They invest money, create banners and so on and get young people into drinking. They have played a major role in alcohol becoming a serious problem in this country. Most Deputies agree that promoting craft beer and small breweries will lead us to a better rather than a worse place in terms of our approach to alcohol.